Policy framework
National Action Plan:
Name:
National Strategic Action Plan 2019 – 2023
Brief description:
Strategic Action Plan (SAP) highlights the development targets and priorities of the government from 2019 to 2023. The SAP serves as the main implementation and monitoring tool to track the progress of the delivery of the Government’s policies and development priorities. The document presents 5 sectors and 33 subsectors whereby “Jazeera Dhiriulhun” is the sector relevant to Ministry of Environment which encompasses a subsector as “waste as a resource”. This sector highlights key policies, strategies, actions and targets to be achieved by waste sector. Waste as a resource incorporates 4 policies. Policy 1: Promote waste as a valuable resource for income generation. Policy 2. Improve chemical and hazardous waste management practices to ensure protection of people and the environment. Policy 3: Reduce plastics pollution by phasing out single use plastics. Policy 4: Instill environmental values in the society and promote environmentally friendly lifestyle.
With regard to the policy 3: Reduce Plastic Pollution by Phasing out single-use plastic, Ministry has formulated the National Single-use plastic phaseout plan. This document outlines the strategic implementation plan for Single Use Plastic (SUP) Phaseout in the Maldives by 2023.
This Phaseout policy is a commitment of the Government of Maldives to phaseout SUP’s in the
Maldives by 2023, as per the Maldives Parliament Resolution of 2019 (1-ރ /2019/EC) and His
Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s declaration at the 74th session of the United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019.
Name:
National Single-use Plastic phaseout plan 2020-2023
Brief Description:
Single-use plastic phaseout plan is a national initiative to ban the import, production and consumption of certain single use plastics into the Maldives, and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, in the effort to protect human health and the vulnerable marine environment of the country through policy measures. Furthermore, SUP phaseout plan is in align with the National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP 2019-2023) of the Government and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and 15 to affirm the Maldives commitment to phaseout single use plastic by 2023.
The key policy measures of the plan are:
- Ban the Import, Production and Sale of Specific SUP Products
- Tariffs, Taxation and Subsidies
- Strengthening National Waste Data and Setting Reduction Targets for Plastic Packaging
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Sustainable Provision of Alternatives
- Education and Awareness
The first phase of the SUP plan began with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to Import Export Act law on December 22,2020 which vests the president with powers to ban the import of SUP’s. Therefore, the Presidential Decree to ban the import of single-use plastics identified in the SUP phaseout plan was announced in December 30, 2020. However, due to the pandemic some of the timelines in the decree was delayed and the new effective dates are announced by the president on 31st May 2021. There are total 13 single-use plastic items subjected to ban under the presidential decree. These items will be phaseout in different timelines. Therefore, total 8 single-use plastic items will be banned effective from 01st June 2021. The Presidential Decree to ban the import of single-use plastics identified in the SUP will be available via
https://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/en/download/11888
The legal framework to ban the production and usage of these single-use plastic items has been submitted to People’s Majilis. Therefore, as soon as this gets approved the production and usage of the single-use plastic items will also be in effective from the date approved by the Majilis.
Overview of the policy instruments in the single-use plastic phaseout plan.
Policy 1: Ban the Import, Production and Sale of specific single-use plastics
Ban the production, import and sale of single-use plastic plastics in Maldives. The list of single-use plastic items identified in the plan are those that are easily found as litter. In addition, these items will have easily and affordable alternatives in the Market of Maldives
Policy 2: Market Based Instruments (MBI’s)
Policy two uses various market based or economic instruments to discourage the consumption of different types of single-use plastics while simultaneously providing incentives to change to environmentally friendly alternatives. Market based strategies under this policy include:
A) Increase in tariff for various SUP’s
B) Duty exemption for alternatives to SUP’s
C) Levies from consumers, on point of sale from certain SUP’s
D) Incentives and Business facilitations programmes targeted for local businesses and SME’s that import, manufacture and sell plastic free alternatives
Policy 3: Strengthening National Waste Data Base and Setting Reduction Targets for plastic Packaging
Strengthen national Import Data of Single-use plastics and Determine National Reduction and collection targets by 2023
Policy 4: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Pass legislation on Producer Responsibility on Packaging, whereby the roles and responsibilities of importers, producers and distributors take full or partial economic and physical responsibility for the environmental product design, separate collection and end-of life management of single-use plastic products
Policy 5: Sustainable Provision of Alternatives
Provision of sustainable alternatives will be introduced and implemented under this policy action. In addition to this, certain measures will be taken to strengthen the sustainability performance in different sectors.
Policy 6: Education and Awareness
Education and Awareness is one of key policy action to create awareness about the policy initiatives about the single use plastic phaseout plan and to promote sustainable lifestyle Therefore, a National Awareness Campaign (2021-2023) has been inaugurated in April 2021. The Objective of this campaign is to aware public about the key policies under the single-use plastic phaseout plan and encourage people to adapt to environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Legal framework
Name:
Import Export bill no: 31/79 (7/2020)
Brief description:
The new amendment for the Import Export bill has been ratified recently and it’s effective from 1st August 2020. It states that Single Use Plastics that are being identified by the government of Maldives will be banned from January 2021.
Update:
Due to the pandemic there has been changes to the timeline of the import ban. Therefore, the ratification of the 18th Amendment to Import Export Act law has been passed on December 22,2020 which vests the president with powers to ban the import of SUP’s. hence, the Presidential Decree to ban the import of single-use plastics identified in the SUP phaseout plan was announced in December 30, 2020 Updated list will be available via https://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/en/download/11888
b) Environment Protection and Preservation Act 1993
Under Environmental Protection and Preservation Act Disposal of waste, oil, poisonous substances and other harmful substances within the territory of the Republic of Maldives is prohibited. Waste shall be disposed only in the areas designated for the purpose by the government.
Indicators
- By 2023, phase out of importation, production and use of single use plastics in the country is enforced
- By 2021, Develop a national policy framework on pollution prevention
- Develop a Single use plastic regulation by 2021
- Implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for identified categories of single use plastic
Phase out single use plastic bottles and introduce water coolers provide access to safe drinking water in public spaces - Formulate a comprehensive policy and implementation framework on the ban of single use plastics with short, medium, and long-term goals
Measures
Measures |
Achievements |
Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
|
Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) |
|
Names of actions: Targeted products: Introduce levy: Brief description: |
We do not see any particular trend Comments: |
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
Comments: Amendment to the Import Export Law will be introduced for duty exemption of environmentally friendly products. The estimated date for policy changes to be effective is at the end of this year. |
Measures |
Achievements |
Environmentally sound waste management |
|
Enforcement of proper waste management system |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: Weighing scales has been provided to zone 2 islands (46 islands) to weigh waste daily and report the types and amount of waste generated daily. Waste weighing and segregation starts from July 2021 for the mentioned islands and waste data will be collected daily. |
We do not see any particular trend Comments: Numerical data if any: |
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description: 2) Waste Bill 3) Environment Protection and Preservation Act 1993 4) Awareness Programs 5) National Pollution Prevention Policy |
We do not see any particular trend Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Cleanup of marine plastic litter |
|
Collection of scattered waste on beach |
|
Names of actions: c) Ghost nets and their points of origin of identification by Olive ridley project d) Plastic Intercept Brief description: f) Ghost nets and their points of origin of identification by Olive ridley project g) Plastic Intercept |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Comments: |
Removal of plastic litter from the ocean | |
Names of actions: Brief description: Details of their work can be via: https://savethebeachvillingili.wordpress.com/ |
☒We see a positive improvement from last two years Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Promotion of innovative solutions |
|
Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’) |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: 2- Duty exemption on plastic free alternatives |
☒We do not see any particular trend Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Education and awareness raising |
|
Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues |
|
a) Teacher Handbook b) School awareness sessions c)Farukoe program |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL |
|
National level: b) National Awareness campaign on phasing out Single Use Plastic in Maldives (“PlastikaaNulaa” campaign) c) Community mobilization sessions Local level: Brief description: |
National level: Local level: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter |
|
Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics We do not see any particular trend |
Challenges
- Recycling system improvement
- Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
- Data collection related to waste in general
- Data collection related to marine plastic litter
- Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments
- Lack of financial incentives for waste treatment in general
- Lack of financial incentives for technology development
- Project delays due to COVID-19
Best practices
National level-
- BATNEEC (Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Costs) in RWMF (Regional Waste Management Facility) and 1 recycling facility in Maldives for fitting local scale
- Conduct feasibility study for establishing a recycling facility in Maldives
- Provision of sorting technologies and material recovery technologies in at least 1 RMWF (Regional Waste Management Facility)
- b) Pass legislation on Producer Responsibility on Packaging whereby the roles and responsibilities of importers, producers, and distributors take full or partial economic and physical responsibility for the environmental product design, separate collection, and end-of life management of single-use plastic products
- c) Implement a mechanism to extract nonbiodegradable waste generated in inhabited islands and ensure safe transportation to Thilafushi annually until the Regional Waste Management and Treatment Facilities are operational
Local level
- Develop and implement an SOP for waste segregation at the household level in all administrative islands
- Revise the current waste management model employed in the inhabited islands, as per the recommendations of existing technical studies to ensure sustainability
- Develop a framework to conduct waste audit at island level
- Conduct comprehensive waste audits across all islands to identify volume of different waste streams and to formulate reduction targets
- Incentivize plastic free packaging on locally made food and other products
Private sector
- Parley Maldives
Parley Maldives is active in implementing the Avoid. Intercept. Redesign (AIR) strategy. Parley have set up collection points all major schools of Male’ and entered into agreements with fishing vessels to collect PET bottles every day. In 2016, Parley collected 75,000-80,000 5 litre PET bottles every day. Furthermore, only by intercepting the PET bottles that are going to Thilafushi, they exported 3 million 5-litre PET bottles in December 2015 to an Adidas manufacturing facility in Taiwan; where they are being remade into fashion, or sport wear. As of December 2019, Parley is in partnership with 88 schools, 46 resorts, 41 councils, 35 government organisations, 18 cafes’ in Male’, 7 guesthouses, and 2 safaris. In total, from December 2016 to August 2019, Parley has sent sixty 40ft containers weighing over 1000 tons to the Adidas facility in Taiwan. - Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO)– (state owned company)
WAMCO is a state-owned company responsible for waste collection and disposal at regional facilities. Segregated plastics brought to WAMCO by individuals, clean-ups, or organisations are compacted or baled on site for exporting, to be recycled. In 2017, WAMCO generated a revenue of over one million Rufiyaa by exporting plastics, cardboard, and metals to regional facilities in Asia. - Secure bag
Secure Bag is a private business engaged in the exportation of reusable, and recyclable materials since 2004. Their main business segment is exporting scrap metals, such as copper, aluminium, brass, and batteries. Plastics are only a small portion of the business, which is done out of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The company can be said to be the largest private buyer and collector of PET bottles in the Maldives. They mainly buy PET bottles from the second hand “Neelan” shop in the Maldives, from Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), tourist resorts, and other islands. They export 20-30 tons of PET every three to six months. In 2017, Secure Bag exported 80 tons of plastic waste, parings and scrap. This is an increase from the latest export value provided by Secure Bag in 2014, which was 55 tons.
International cooperation
- Commonwealth clean ocean alliance (CCOA)
In 2020, Maldives joined commonwealth clean ocean alliance, a working group aiming to take actions on tackling marine plastic pollution. - Group of Friends Maldives is one of the member states and co-chaire of the Group of Friends. The Group of Friends (GoF) would seek to push for action that would help to effectively address plastic pollution at the global level. Supporting the ongoing work under the UN Environmental Assembly will be one of the main objectives of the Group of Friends in this regard. Building on the efforts taking place in various forums and at various levels of government and society, the GoF will play a significant role to strengthen the political momentum and to shepherd the transformation of these different efforts towards an effective, coherent, and coordinated action and solutions to address plastic pollution. As all countries are represented through their UNHQ-based Missions (unlike at other forums where these issues are being addressed), the GoF is well-positioned to engage all stakeholders consistently.
The Group of Friends to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution has been established under the co-chairmanship of Maldives, Norway and Antigua & Barbuda to formulate a response at the global level to raise awareness and to advocate for action to combat marine plastic pollution. Presently, 46 member states of the UN have joined the Group of Friends.
Further information
- Single-use plastic phaseout plan 2020-2023
https://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/wp-content/files/publications/20210425-pub-single-use-plastic-phase-out-plan.pdf - Presidential Decree on banning the import of single-use plastic in Maldives
https://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/en/download/11888 - Strategic Action Plan 2019-2023
https://presidency.gov.mv/SAP/ - Environment Protection and Preservation Act 1993
http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/mdv18342.pdf - Waste Management Policy
http://www.mvlaw.gov.mv/pdf/gavaid/minHousing/28.pdf - Maldives Clean Environment Project
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/loans-credits/2017/06/23/maldives-clean-environment-project - Greater Male’ Waste to Energy Project- funded by Asian Development Bank (Zone 3)
http://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/wp-content/files/publications/20180108-pub-market-sounding-info-brochure-for-potential-bidders.pdf - Parley Maldives
https://www.parley.tv/updates/2019/9/25/future-island-nation
http://www.oceansplasticleanup.com/Cleaning_Up_Operations/Cleaning_Up_Oceans_Seas_Projects.htm - Master Plan for sustainable fisheries
https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12301677.pdf
Contact details
Tel: +(960) 301 8300
Email: secretariat@environment.gov.mv